BANZAI said:
In my opinion U2 have always been a mixture between a popband and a rockband. Since the release of ATYCLB it seems they've become more like a pop band. Only songs like Elevation, Vertigo, LAPOE and Crumbs have a little rocking feeling, although with a poppy edge. I have nothing against real pop bands, but I just don't hope U2 will go that way. That's why I truly hope they won't go the musical direction of Window in the Skies.
U2 seems to explore various genres of music. I feel that ATYCLB and HTDAAB, for the first time, is U2 exploring the more "pop sound" of U2. That is, see if they could make U2 songs that could be hits. Keep in mind, this is U2, so we aren't talking Timberlake or Mariah or Christina or Shakira or whomever style of "pop". Instead, it's more of a Beatle-esque style. And I appreciate it for what it is. It's not something U2 has done before and in that sense, it is rather unique.
Additionally, U2 usually explore a style for a few albums. There's the famous breakdown of threes: Boy-War, UF-R&H, AB-Pop. So will there be a third album in this style? Possibly.
But note what happens as U2 explores that sound. Usually it becomes darker, harsher, more experimental and more "rockin'". Granted, there are exceptions to this if one did a song to song comparison - I'm just talking about the general feel to the albums.
And we can hear this already with "Bomb" with "Love & Peace" and "Fast Cars". Therefore, if U2 continues this trend of "threes", while I expect some pop-rock songs like WITS, I also expect some songs that might really throw us. For example, while "Pop" was written in the same vein as AB and "Zooropa", "Mofo" was like nothing they ever did and was really unique for U2.
While I do really enjoy ATYCLB and HTDAAB, even I have to admit to not wanting another pure pop album. We got that, but I too hope U2 get more rocking and forget songs like "A Man and a Woman" or "One Step Closer". HTDAAB would have been so much better, IMO, had it included "Electrical Storm" and "Mercy" (or even WITS) instead. Therefore, U2 needs to save some of this light "adult contemporary" stuff for their b-sides or special releases. Give us one more great rock or harder edged album. It might just be the last one!